Rafa Benitez Talks About Newcastle’s Transfers

After the friendly game at the Keepmoat Stadium last night which ended in a 2-2 draw Rafa Benitez talked about transfers both into and out of Newcastle.

The manager played two wantaway players Florian Thauvin and Gini Wijnaldum, who is reported to be close to joining Liverpool although he couldn’t say too much about the actual situation.

Rafa Benitez arrives last night at the Keepmoat Stadium
Benitez also talked about the potential Grant Hanley signing being very close – he is on Tyneside right now taking his medical and we expect an announcement he has signed some time today.

This is some of what Rafa said after the game last night:

“I can’t really say anything other than that we will have to wait to see what happens,”“He (Wijnaldum) is still our player and that means he has to be ready for us.”

“If something happens with Liverpool, we will know in some days. But until something changes, we will continue training and working with him, and we will continue playing him in the games.”

“It looks like his (Hanley’s) transfer could be close,” “But we still have to wait because in football you always have to finalize things. At the moment, it is still a case of waiting with him.”

Newcastle showed their same old frailties in the first half of last night’s game when we gifted Doncaster two goals.

One after 19 minutes through a poor Matz Sels goalkeeping error and then on 45 minutes when our players were asleep (again) following a Doncaster corner.

But we came back in the second half with two goals although the equalizer from Ayoze Perez came late – in the 90th minute.

Looks like we need a strong physical presence at the back like a Grant Hanley – so he will be a welcome new signing today.

In honor of two dedicated Newcastle fans, who lost their lives supporting Newcastle United.

Their passenger jet was shot down over Ukraine on Thursday July 17th, 2014 by rebels, as they were traveling to support the team in New Zealand.

We will never forget them.

Health Update - 4 Aug, 2016

The good news last week was that after more blood tests my PSA count is still undetectable

This means the prostate cancer is still under control, and there is no trace of it in the body.

Now to be even more vigilant so I can see the Rafa Benitez project come to its fruition over the next few years - wouldn't want to miss that.

Howay The Lads!!>

Ed Harrison

What Is A Football Club?

What is a club in any case?

Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it.

It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes.

It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city.

It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.